Honestly, wait until he is through his growth spurt before you write off swimming, OP! Especially if he enjoys it. My swimmer was always a really slow turtle. He spent years doing a lot of technique work. We got in the habit of reading results from the bottom up. Then he hit puberty and wow -- the effect of the testosterone is insane. He's in early HS now and getting A times regularly, making finals and dropping a ton of time every meet. Plus, he loves it.

This is a sport he will do for his entire life and it will keep him in amazing shape. It also kept him sane through a pandemic. I don't care if he swims in college! He'll keep up this crazy schedule for as long as he wants to and then can dial it back to something reasonable.

Anonymous wrote:To have fun and be a part of a team.

This. Also: discipline and hard work.

I was like your son, with both swimming and running cross-country. I will never be the fastest at either of those things. But they laid a foundation for me and guess what? I became a damn good and competitive rower in college and after. I don’t think I would have had the courage to try it were it not for those past experiences.

I hope your son’s coach is teaching him these lessons. It’s not all about being the best.

Anonymous wrote:End game?

Outside the .001% that get to play professional, the end game is to have fun, make friends, learn some new skils.

And swimming has the bonus that you get a lifelong health activitiy

Exactly, its the same end game as the fast swimmers

As long as it is swimmer led, as opposed to parent led - it's good physical activity.

End game?

Outside the .001% that get to play professional, the end game is to have fun, make friends, learn some new skils.

And swimming has the bonus that you get a lifelong health activitiy

Anonymous wrote:Most of MD does have HS swimming. What county r u in?

Howard county

Mine was like yours and kept at it for fitness, something to do, and love of the activity. Of all of his activities, swimming is the one that is a through line passion of his life, including working as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and it stood out on his college applications even though he never "won" anything. Continuing to work to improve yourself, knowing you will get no external reward or medal is actually a really good look. He also says it kept him sane during covid isolation, and long training laps is where he does his best thinking.

For our summer team coaching is the end game. We have summer swim team where some coaches don't make A meets, but seem to enjoy coaching. Our summer swim has a winter program for young swimmers that is largely coached by teen swimmers overseen by one coach.

What end game are you looking for OP?

Anonymous wrote:To have fun and be a part of a team.

Plus physical fitness that will extend throughout their life. Former slow swimmer here with great form and health and passion for the sport regardless of the number of trophies. People are missing that a lot with their kids in many sports.

Stay involved with summer team, be a lifeguard, help younger swimmers. The summer pool is a great community for teens.

Most of MD does have HS swimming. What county r u in?

To have fun and be a part of a team.

Does he still enjoy swimming?

DS is consistently slower than B at 12 and has been swimming year round for 3 years. He is not particularly athletic and this is his only sport/physical activity. What is the end game for kids like him? Is there merit in encouraging him to swim even though he is probably never going to win even a summer meet. Should he just focus his energies else where. We live in MD so there is no high school swim team to work towards either.